Every so often, especially before we start our post-holiday season diets, one just needs a burger. This month we tried burgers joints that we have not previously reviewed. (That rules out a number of places such as Lil Woodies, Red Barn, Taurus Ox, Quinn’s Pub, etc.) We found a few good options, both here and on the road, for you to consider when next you want a burger.

January represents a time of fresh starts and setting up a solid foundation for the year ahead. So, rather than accumulating another failed resolution, I like to set achievable goals. As cheesy as SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals are, I am a fan of them because they make it easier to complete those goals (or resolutions). That feeling of completing a goal, either in the professional or personal spheres, is unbeatable.

Happy New Year! We begin 2025 with a sense of hope and gratitude. We are hopeful with new additions to our bench and new rotations as of January 13, we will tackle the work of the court with effort and energy and continue to provide access.

The KCBA Board of Trustees met on November 20, 2024. President Overbey called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.

The annual KCBA Bench Bar Conference was held on November 8th at the Seattle Convention Center. The planning committee consisting of Presiding Judge Ketu Shah, Katie Comstock, Colin Mieling, and KCBA President Erin Overbey. 

Did you know? Each year the New Lawyer Division (NLD) accepts nominations from the legal community for the New Lawyer of the Year award. Do you know a new lawyer who has been practicing for less than 10 years whose contributions to the legal profession are exemplary? Do you know a new lawyer who goes above and beyond in their practice? If so, consider nominating them today to recognize their exceptional mentorship of new attorneys! Nominations can be submitted online via the KCBA website in the New Lawyers Division section or using the handy QR code located here.

What the heck is happening with juries? If you are a litigator, you have had some form of this conversation over the last few years. It is being discussed everywhere…at the watercooler, in CLEs, in private plaintiff listservs, in corporate in-house retreats, and more. We’ve even had judges pull us aside and ask us our thoughts on the matter. Everyone seems to have a story about something crazy a jury did in their case or a colleague’s. And we’ve all seen the headlines about extraordinary damage awards in some cases. Plaintiff attorneys now think every case is a seven-figure case while some defense attorneys are truly convinced there is an actual, physical reptilian part of the brain that is driving all this. And last we heard, Reptile authors Don Keenan and David Ball are still wondering why everyone ignores their recommendation (from the same book and theory) to incorporate scripture into every case presentation.

January marks the new year, a time for optimism and for many, hope for better things to come. As any sharp business attorney knows however, hope is a lousy strategy—particularly for companies looking for solutions to their toughest financial and operational challenges. Eventually those searches will involve technology and initiatives aimed at transforming some aspect of the enterprise, which is often where things start to unravel.

Washington State, including King County, is facing a crisis in public defense. Experienced lawyers are leaving the practice because of the overwhelming caseload. In some counties, accused persons are waiting weeks without a lawyer.1 Many new law graduates who are interested in public defense are not even applying for open positions because they know that the workload is so high and in many parts of the state, the compensation is so low. The criminal legal system is on the verge of collapse.

The proposal by the WSBA to reduce case loads for public defenders has generated significant commentary from across the state, all of which is available here1. The KCBA has not taken a position on this issue but presents this summary and citations so that members can access the differing viewpoints on this issue. Some of the objections to the current proposal discussed in Robert Boruchowitz’s article are further articulated in the comments below. To better understand the context of comments both in favor and against the proposal, the full statement should be read.